Some special guests in June at the SJMC

At the beginning of June, the Sir John Monash Centre was delighted to welcome His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley to the Australian National Memorial and the Sir John Monash Centre. Their Excellencies had travelled to France to mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

On Wednesday 5 June, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC, Governor-General of Australia, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, and the Australian Ambassador to France, Her Excellency Mrs Gillian Bird, met the Sir John Monash Centre team and new director, Ben Daetwyler.

Mayors Didier Dinouard and Yves Ducrocq, and Director Ben Daetwyler welcoming the Governor-General of Australia.

Guided by Ben Daetwyler, their Excellencies visited the graves of several soldiers buried in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, including that of Captain Neville Wallach MC, one of the five sons of the Wallach family who served on the Western Front, and laid a wreath at the foot of the Australian National Memorial.

The Governor-General's delegation, led by the Director of the Sir John Monash Centre, in the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery.

The Governor-General of Australia and his wife, Mrs Hurley laying a wreath at the Australian National Memorial. — ] The Governor-General of Australia and his wife, Mrs Hurley, laid a wreath at the Australian National Memorial.

Once in the Centre, their Excellencies met the Sir John Monash Centre team, and visited the Centre’s interpretive gallery. Through the state-of-the-art technology, the Governor-General was immersed in the story of the Australians who served on the Western Front during the First World War.

The delegation also visited the Australian Corps Memorial at Le Hamel and the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension, where Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley’s great uncle, Captain John James Marshall of the 55th Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, is buried.

Ben Daetwyler and His Excellency David Hurley, Governor-General of Australia, heading to the Australian National Memorial.

The Australian Governor-General's delegation at the Australian Corps Memorial in Le Hamel.

The Centre received other notable guests in June, including former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who announced the Centre in 2015, and, to quote Michael Turnbull at the Centre’s inauguration in 2018, “has always advocated for a greater recognition in our history of the Australian’s deeds, their service and sacrifice, their loss and their triumph here on the fields of France.” This was his second visit to the Centre, and he was pleased to be able to spend time inside the interpretive gallery watching each of the Centre’s films.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Ben Daetwyler shaking hands during his visit at the Sir John Monash Centre.

The Gendarmerie of the Somme with the SJMC’s Director in the Foyer.

On a more local note, we were delighted to welcome the Gendarmerie of the Somme to the Centre for a meeting in the Patrick Simon AO Room and to rediscover the Centre’s state-of-the-art exhibition.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming the educational authority of the Somme, Mr Pierre Moya, his team and more than thirty head teachers of local schools, who learned about the Centre’s facilities and its educational offer for students.

We’re grateful for the support of our French partners and the local authorities who provide great assistance throughout the year and especially for major events such as the Anzac Day services.